GD5501 Gender Theory

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 11

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Open to MLitt Gender Studies students only.

Planned timetable

To be arranged

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr J E Fletcher

Dr J E Fletcher
This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Team taught; teaching staff confirmed at start of semester.

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

What is gender? On this module you will learn how gender is defined, generated, and communicated in different academic and non-academic contexts. You will explore the history of gender studies and the theoretical background of gender. You will consider questions such as: What might it mean to claim that reason, rationality or knowledge is gendered? How is gender relevant to ethical concerns? How might an understanding of gender impact thinking about concepts such as equality, justice, difference, or dependence? Is our culture still sexist, or is the need for feminism over? Are women and men naturally better at different tasks? You will learn how to evaluate and construct arguments concerning the application of theoretical accounts of gender to contemporary debates. In doing so, you will develop your understanding of how gender interacts with class, race, ethnicity, sexuality, inequality, and power. Possible topics include: intersectional accounts of race, sexuality, power, and disability; feminist analyses of sexual objectification in pornography; feminist arguments in ethics and social theory; criticisms of gendered labour; and the impact of gender on knowledge and research. The module includes skills workshops that connect your academic learning with the development of personal and professional competencies. Workshops bring together students from other Graduate School for Interdisciplinary Studies Masters degrees, helping you to make new interdisciplinary connections. GD5501 is a compulsory module for the MLitt in Gender Studies.

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

Coursework = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

Usually 1 x themed seminar; additional skills workshops in some weeks.

Scheduled learning hours

35

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

264

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Articulate how gender (and related terms) is defined, generated, and communicated in different academic and non-academic contexts.
  • Grasp the history of gender studies and the theoretical background of gender.
  • Understand how gender, class, race, ethnicity, sexuality, power, and inequality are inextricably connected.
  • Evaluate and construct coherent arguments concerning the application of theoretical accounts of gender to contemporary debates.